2025 Yamaha R3 Unveiled, Gets New Styling

The last of the older styled Yamaha R-series bikes has been updated to the new family design language. Yes, the 2025 R3 now looks just like its other road-legal sport bike siblings like the R15 M, R7 and the newly arrived R9. And while it does represent a change, it doesn’t feel like a lot.

The reason we feel that way is because if you remove the new clothes, you will find the foundations of the R3 are untampered. The same 321 cc parallel-twin mill pushing out the same 41.42 bhp and 29.5 Nm, the same diamond type frame sprung by a telescopic fork and monoshock and the same 17-inch wheels with floating brake calipers are to be found on the new R3. No changes to the seat height, ergonomics or fuel tank capacity too.

The difference then remains the new look. And a slip-and-assist clutch, which should have been there a while ago. Circling back to the styling, yes, the R3 looks sharper and more focused than before. There are more cuts and edges than ever with the body-integrated winglets giving off a crisp look.

And then there’s the new colour LCD screen which gets smartphone connectivity and a USB Type-A charging port. That’s it. No electronic riding aids, no quickshifter, no turn-by-turn navigation. Nothing.

This does feel like a letdown for those who were expecting more from Yamaha. The R3 was one of the leaders of the segment but it has been nearly a decade and it still has not made significant step-ups like its rivals have. The KTM RC 390 is a whole different approachable beast, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is one of the fastest bikes out there in the class and the new Indo-Italian Aprilia RS 457 is perhaps the best sport bike in the class right now. The R3, sadly, feels lacking in this company.